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Standard Songs for Average People

by John Prine

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    John Prine & bluegrass legend Mac Wiseman team up for a duet album of their favorite country, folk, and gospel songs. Available on CD from Oh Boy Records.

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  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 23 John Prine releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, Vol. 2, I Remember Everything (Digital Download), The Kentucky Sessions, The Living Room Sessions, The Tree of Forgiveness, September 78, John Prine: Live in Asheville '86, For Better, Or Worse, and 15 more. , and , .

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1.
Side by side we'll roll along, sweetheart you and I And to you I'll sing this song as the years go passing by I may be good or I may be bad but you never frown I couldn't find a sweeter pal if I'd searched the whole world around Blue eyed Elaine you're the sweetest thing and I love you so And you'll always be the same no matter where we go We'll travel here we'll travel there and we'll never part You'll always be my blue eyed Elaine and I'll be your sweetheart When skies are grey and things go wrong we'll never fret nor sigh But we'll just keep traveling on with our heads held up high And when I gaze into your eyes your heart and soul are plain And you know the reason why I love you blue eyed Elaine Blue eyed Elaine you're the sweetest thing and I love you so And you'll always be the same no matter where we go We'll travel here we'll travel there and we'll never part You'll always be my blue eyed Elaine and I'll be your sweetheart
2.
Don't be ashamed of your age. Don't let the years get you down. That old gang you knew, they still think of you as a rounder in your old hometown. Don't mind the grey in your hair. Just think of all the fun you've had puttin' it there. As for that old book of time, you've never skipped a page. So don't be ashamed of your age, brother. Don't be ashamed of your age. Listen, Mr. Smith, Mr. Brown, Don't let your age get you down. Life ain't begun until you're 40, son. That's when you really start to go to town. Don't wish that you were a lad. Why, boy, you've lost more gals than they've ever had. And, listen, you've graduated from that ol' sucker stage, So don't be ashamed of your age, brother. Don't be ashamed of your age.
3.
I forgot to remember to forget her, I can’t seem to get her off my mind. I thought I’d never miss her, But I’ve found out somehow I think about her almost all the time. Well the day she went away I made myself a promise That I’d soon forget we’d ever met. But something sure is wrong,‘cos I’m so blue and lonely: I forgot to remember to forget. Well the day she went away I made myself a promise That I’d soon forget we’d ever met. But something sure is wrong ‘cos I’m so blue and lonely: I forgot to remember to forget.
4.
I love you because you understand, dear Every single thing I try to do You're always there to lend a helping hand, dear I love you most of all because you're you. No matter what the world may say about me I know your love will always see me through I love you for the way you never doubt me. But, most of all I love you 'cause you're you. (I love you because the future's brighter) (The door to happiness shall open wide) No matter what the world may say about me I know your love will always see me through I love you for a hundred thousand reasons, But, most of all I love you 'cause you're you.
5.
Lay that pistol down, Babe. Lay that pistol down. Pistol packin mama - Lay that pistol down. Oh, drinkin beer in a cabaret Was I havin fun! Until one night she caught me right And now I'm on the run. Oh, lay that pistol down, Babe. Lay that pistol down. Pistol packin mama - Lay that pistol down. Oh, I'll sing you every night Bing and I'll woo you every day. I'll be your regular mama and I'll put that gun away. Oh, lay that pistol down, Babe. Lay that pistol down. Pistol packin mama Lay that thing down before it goes off and hurts somebody! Oh, she kicked out my windshield and she hit me over the head. She cussed and cried and said I lied and she wished that I was dead. Oh, lay that pistol down, Babe. Lay that pistol down. Pistol packin mama - Lay that pistol down. We're three tough gals from deep down Texas way. We got no pals, they don't like the way we play. We're a rough rootin tootin shootin trio But you ought to see my sister Cleo She's a terror make no error But there ain't no nicer terror Here's what we tell her: Lay that pistol down, Babe. Lay that pistol down. Pistol packin mama - Lay that pistol down Pappy made a batch of corn, The revenuers came. The draugh was slow, so now they know you can't do that to Mame. Lay that pistol down, Babe. Lay that pistol down. Pistol packin mama - Lay that pistol down Oh, singing songs in a cabaret - Was I havin fun! Until one night it didn't seem right, and now I'm on the run. Oh, lay that pistol down, Babe. Lay that pistol down. Pistol packin mama - Lay that pistol down. Oh, pistol packin mama - Lay that pistol down.
6.
I was born in Saginaw Michigan I grew up in a house on Saginaw bay My dad was a poor hard working Saginaw fisherman Too many times he came home with too little pay I loved a girl in Saginaw Michigan the daughter of a wealthy wealthy man But he called me that son of a Saginaw fisherman And not good enough to claim his daughter's hand Now I'm up here in Alaska looking around for gold Like a crazy fool I'm a digging in this frozen ground so cold But with each new day I pray I'll strike it rich and then I'll go back home and claim my love in Saginaw Michigan I wrote my love in Saginaw Michigan I said honey I'm a coming home please wait for me And you can tell your dad I'm coming home a richer man I've hit the biggest strike in Klondyke history Her dad met me in Saginaw Michigan he gave me a great big party with champagne Then he said son you're wise young ambitious man Will you sell your father-in-law your Klondyke claim Now he's up there in Alaska digging in the cold cold ground The greedy fool is a looking for the gold I never found It serves him right and no one here is missing him Least of all the newly weds of Saginaw Michigan We're the happiest man and wife in Saginaw Michigan He's ashamed to show his face in Saginaw Michigan
7.
Old Dogs and Children and Watermelon Wine "How old do you think I am," he said? I said, well, I didn't know. He said, "I turned 65 about 11 months ago." I was sittin' in Miami, pouring blended whiskey down When this old gray, black gentleman was cleaning up the lounge. There wasn't anyone around, except this old man and me. The guy who ran the bar was watching Ironside on TV. Uninvited, he sat down and opened up his mind On old dogs and children and watermelon wine. "Ever had a drink of watermelon wine," he asked. He told me all about it, though I didn't answer back. "Ain't but three things in this world that's worth a solitary dime, But old dogs and children and watermelon wine." He said, "Women think about themselves, when men-folk ain't around. And friends are hard to find when they discover that you're down." He said, "I tried it all when I was young and in my natural prime, Now it's old dogs and children and watermelon wine." "Old dogs care about you even when you make mistakes. God bless little children while they're still to young to hate." When he moved away I found my pen and copied down that line About old dogs and children and watermelon wine. I had to catch a plane up to Atlanta that next day. As I left for my room I saw him picking up my change. That night I dreamed in peaceful sleep of shady summertime, Of old dogs and children and watermelon wine.
8.
If you're fond of sand dunes and salty air Quaint little villages here and there (You're sure)You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod (Cape Cod, that old Cape Cod) If you like the taste of a lobster stew Served by a window with an ocean view (You're sure)You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod Winding roads that seem to beckon you Miles of green beneath a sky of blue Church bells chimin' on a Sunday morn Remind you of the town where you were born If you spend an evening you'll want to stay Watching the moonlight on Cape Cod Bay You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod (aah, aah) If you spend an evening you'll want to stay (on Cape Cod Bay) Watching the moonlight on Cape Cod Bay You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod You're sure to fall in love You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod
9.
Oh, come all ye young people and listen while I tell, The fate of Floyd Collins, the lad we all knew well, His face was fair and handsome, his heart was true and brave, His body now lies sleeping in a lonely sandstone cave. Oh , mother don't you worry, dear father don't' be sad, I'll tell you all my troubles in an awful dream I had, I dreamed I was a prisoner, my life I could not save, I cried "Oh must I perish within this silent cave. The rescue party labored, they worked both night and day, To move the mighty barrier that stood within their way, To rescue Floyd Collins, it was their battle cry, "We'll never, no we'll never, let Floyd Collins die." But on that fateful morning, the sun rose in the sky, The workers still were busy, "we'll save him by and by," But oh how sad the ending, his life could not be saved, His body was then sleeping in the lonely sandstone cave. Young people, all take warning from Floyd Collin's fate, And get right with your maker before it is too late. It may not be a Sand Cave in which we find our tomb, But on that day of judgment, we too must meet our doom.
10.
I'm calling to tell you its over Yes darling, you're now free to go. You're saying you're sorry you hurt me But you hurt me much more than you know. You're asking me where this call comes from Oh, I hope you won't end up here. If your new romance turns out a failure, Here's where you'll find me my dear. I'm just on the blue side of lonesome Right next to the Heartbreak Hotel In a tavern that's known as Three Teardrops On a bar stool, not doing so well. The floor has a carpet of sorrows, Yet no one can weep in the aisle. And they say someone broke the bar mirror, With only the ghost of a smile. The hands on the clock never alter, For things never change in this place. There's no present, no past, no future, We're the ones who have lost in loves race. (repeat chorus)
11.
I come to the garden alone While the dew is still on the roses And the voice I hear, falling on my ear The Son of God discloses And He walks with me And He talks with me And He tells me I am His own And the joy we share as we tarry there None other has ever known He speaks and the sound of His voice Is so sweet the birds hush their singing And the melody that He gave to me Within my heart is ringing And He walks with me And He talks with me And He tells me I am His own And the joy we share as we carry there None other has ever known I'd stay in the garden with Him 'Tho the night around me be falling But He bids me go; through the voice of woe His voice to me is calling And He walks with me And He talks with me And He tells me I am His own And the joy we share as we carry there None other has ever known
12.
I've come from just the other side of no-where, To this big time lonesome town. They got a lotta ice an' snow here, Half as cold as all the people I've found. Every way I try to go here, Seems to bring me down. I seen about enough to know where I belong. I've got a mind to see the headlights shinin', On that old white line between my heart and home. Sick of spendin' Sundays, wishin' they were Mondays, Sittin' in a park alone. So give my best to anyone who's left who ever done me, Any lovin' way but wrong, Tell them that the pride of just the other side of nowhere's goin' home. Takin' nothing back to show there, For these dues I have paid, But the soul I almost sold here, And the body I've been givin' away. Fadin' from the neon nightime glow here, Headin' for the light of day. Just the other side of nowhere, goin' home. I've got a mind to see the headlights shinin', On that old white line between my heart and home. Sick of spendin' Sundays, wishin' they were Mondays, Sittin' in a park alone. So give my best to anyone who's left who ever done me, Any lovin' way but wrong, Tell 'em that the pride of just the other side of nowhere's goin' home. Takin' nothing back to show there, For these dues I have paid, But the soul I almost sold here, And the body I've been givin away. Fadin' from the neon nightime glow here, Headin' for the light of day. Just the other side of nowhere, goin' home. Just the other side of no-where, goin' home.
13.
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, The emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain. So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown. O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, Has a wondrous attraction for me; For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above To bear it to dark Calvary. So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, A wondrous beauty I see, For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, To pardon and sanctify me. So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true; Its shame and reproach gladly bear; Then He'll call me some day to my home far away, Where His glory forever I'll share. So I'll cherish the old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it some day for a crown.
14.
Where the blue of the night Meets the gold of the day Someone waits for me And the gold of her hair Crowns the blue of her eyes Like a halo, tenderly If only I could see her Oh how happy I would be Where the blue of the night Meets the gold of the day Someone waits for me Where the blue of the night Meets the gold of the day Someone waits for me

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released April 24, 2007

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John Prine Nashville

A two-time Grammy-winner, John Prine is among the English language’s premier phrase-turners. Almost 50 years into a remarkable career that has drawn praise from Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt, Roger Waters, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen & others. He is a 2019 Rock & Songwriter’s Hall of Fame inductee, a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member and a PEN New England Lyrics Award. ... more

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